A plain and familiar exposition of the eighteenth, nineteenth, and twentieth chapters of the…A plaine and familiar exposition of the eighteenth, nineteenth, and twentieth chapters of the…

Confutation of them that think the lawfulness of any matter §2will bear them out, and give the warrant to act the same in the corruptest manner. They hold it sufficient to justify their action, if the thing may at all be done: if proof may be brought of the same practise, though with different circumstances: if ever any other have well performed it, how absurdly soever themselves pervert it. And therefore many will make themselves drudges to the world, because it is a duty to be diligent in their callings: many will grow to be fierce and violent, because it is good to be fervent and zealous: many will make sports and pastimes their continual occupations, because it is meet sometimes to use recreations.

Confutation of them that thinke the lawfulnesse of any matter §2will beare them out, and giue the warrant to act the same in the corruptest manner. They hold it sufficient to iustifie their action, if the thing may at all be done: if proofe may be brought of the same practise, though with different circumstances: if euer any other haue wel performed it, how absurdly soeuer themselues peruert it. And therefore many will make themselues drudges to the world, because it is a duty to be diligent in their callings: many will grow to be fierce and violent, because it is good to be feruent and zealous: many will make sports and pastimes their continuall occupations, because it is meete sometimes to vse recreations.

Vers. 14. It is naught, it is naught, saith the buyer: but when he is gone apart, he boasteth.

IT is naught, it is naught,] Albeit the ware cheapened be good, and well worth the price demanded by the seller, yet the covetous buyer, to the end he may get it better cheap, whiles he is bidding money for it, dispraiseth it to the uttermost: but when he is gone apart, he boasteth, after he hath bought the thing, and behind the sellers back, he praiseth his bargain, both for the goodness of the commodity, and for the good penny-worth which he had therein. And hereby in like manner the disposition and behaviour of the seller is to be understood, which is as forwards to extol, and set out that which is bad, as the other to find fault with that which is good. For if they be both false and wicked, as this testimony concerneth none other, they will depart with their own with no more truth, and equity, then they seek to come by an other mans, and the Lord doth as much look into, and loath the injustice of the one, as of the other.